Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AZ ZUMAR [49]

49. When harm touches man, he calls to Us (for help); then when We have changed it into a favor from Us, he says: ”Only because of knowledge I obtained it.'' Nay, it is only a trial, but most of them know not! 50. Verily, those before them said it, yet (all) that they had earned availed them not. 51. So, the evil results of that which they earned overtook them. And those who did wrong of these will also be overtaken by the evil results for that which they earned; and they will never be able to escape. 52. Do they not know that Allah expands the provision for whom He wills, and straitens it. Verily, in this are signs for the folk who believe! Allah tells us how man, when he is suffering from harm, prays to Allah, turning to Him in repentance and calling upon Him, but when He makes things easy for him, he transgresses and commits sins.

(Only because of knowledge I obtained it.) means, `because Allah knows that I deserve it; if it were not for the fact that Allah regards me as special, He would not have given me this.' Qatadah said, ”Because I know that I deserve it.'' Allah says:

(Nay, it is only a trial,) meaning, `the matter is not as he claims; on the contrary, We have blessed him with this as a test to see whether he will be obedient or disobedient -- although We have prior knowledge of that.' In fact, it is a trial.

(but most of them know not!) So they say what they say and claim what they claim.

(Verily, those before them said it,) means, the previous nations who came before said the same things and made the same claims,

(yet (all) that they had earned availed them not. ) means, what they said was not right and all that they had gathered did not save them.

(So, the evil results of that which they earned overtook them. And those who did wrong of these...) means, the people who are addressed here,

(will also be overtaken by the evil results (torment) for that which they earned;) just as happened to those earlier peoples.

(and they will never be able to escape.) This is like the Ayah in which Allah tells us how Qarun reacted when his people told him:

(”Do not exult, verily, Allah likes not those who exult. But seek, with that (wealth) which Allah has bestowed on you, the home of the Hereafter, and forget not your portion of lawful enjoyment in this world; and do good as Allah has been good to you, and seek not mischief in the land. Verily, Allah likes not the corrupters.'' He said: ”This has been given to me only because of the knowledge I possess.'' Did he not know that Allah had destroyed before him generations, men who were stronger than him in might and greater in the amount (of riches) they had collected But the criminals will not be questioned of their sins.'') (28:76-78). And Allah says:

(And they say: ”We are more in wealth and in children, and we are not going to be punished.'') (34:35).

(Do they not know that Allah expands the provision for whom He wills, and straitens it.) means, He gives plenty to some and restricts the provision for others.

(Verily, in this are signs for the folk who believe!) means, there is a lesson and proof.